Police Notebook

Information in the Police Notebook is taken directly from police logs in Holden, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland and Sterling. The Notebook includes all arrests and excerpts of other police activity to give area residents a snapshot of problems handled by their local police. The people who have been arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The Landmark welcomes news of acquittals; call 508-829-5981. After verification, news of acquittals will be published.

A Main Street man was arrested Monday morning for allegedly raping a 15year-old Holden girl on November 29 in Holden.

According to Police Chief George Sherrill, Julio Ortiz, 18, of 1625 Main St. was charged with statutory rape of a child. He was also arrested on a warrant stemming from motor vehicle charges.

Ortiz pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Monday at Leominster District Court. He was not held on bail, according to a clerk at the courthouse. His case was continued to January 5.

Sherrill said police are still investigating the relationship between the teens, but that force was not involved in the alleged rape. Police were notified of the alleged incident through the state Department of Social Services.

Because the alleged rape was reported by DSS, Sherrill said Ortiz was asked to come to the station and provide information about the alleged incident to Det. Christopher Carey. Ortiz came voluntarily to the station and was cooperative, Sherrill said.